Verse 1:

• "My shadow side...": Kiedis reflects on his inner conflicts and struggles.
• "Elementary son...": He acknowledges his simplicity and innocence.
• "My love affair with everywhere...": Expresses his wanderlust and connection to the world.

Verse 2:

• "My sunny side...": The loss of his optimistic outlook.
• "The travesties...": Traumatizing experiences have left him numb.

Chorus:

• "My, what a good day...": Ironic statement conveying the speaker's pessimistic view of the world.
• "I'd like to get to know you...": Expresses a desire for connection despite the chaos.

Verse 3:

• "I saw you there...": Kiedis witnesses a scene of beauty and innocence.
• "The disrepair of Norma Jean...": Compares the fragility of Marilyn Monroe to the chaos of the world.

Verse 4:

• "Right on the verge...": The speaker is on the brink of something significant.
• "My theory...": Despite his doubts, he believes in his path.

Bridge:

• "Oh, you don't form in the wet sand...": A metaphor for the impermanence of human relationships and the futility of trying to establish something solid in the face of constant change.

Background and Influences:

• The song was written during a period of turmoil for the band, which included addiction, relationship struggles, and the death of former guitarist Hillel Slovak.
• Kiedis has stated that the lyrics were influenced by his experiences with substance abuse and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.
• The bridge references the Hindu concept of "Balarama," a deity associated with strength and stability. Kiedis contrasts this with his own feelings of vulnerability and impermanence.
• The title "Wet Sand" evokes a sense of transience and the ebb and flow of life.